Jimmy Rollins: Not going anywhere

"Because I can't be traded," Rollins told MLB.com on Wednesday. "It doesn't matter. I don't care which way it is tried to be twisted or said, or if it is exactly how it was said, or even if it was said, I can't be traded. It doesn't matter. If I was tradable it may have weight because that means I could be moving soon. But I am not tradable and so it doesn't matter."

Rollins, who was drafted by the Phillies in 1996, has the right to veto any trade proposals as a 10-and-5 player. He told CSN Philly on Sunday that he won't waive his no-trade rights anytime soon, indicating that he'd like to break Mike Schmidt's franchise record for hits. Rollins has 2,175 hits, 60 shy of Schmidt.

On Tuesday, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, citing sources, reported that there is strong sentiment within the organization that the Phillies would be better off trading Rollins and establishing a new tone with a new shortstop.

Rollins was benched on three successive days earlier this month by Ryne Sandberg, who is in his first full season as manager. The two talked and Sandberg downplayed the notion of a rift.

According to MLB.com, Rollins met briefly with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. on Wednesday.

"Absolute silliness," Amaro told the website when asked about the report. "Jimmy Rollins is our shortstop. One of the ways we're going to be able to win is with Jimmy being Jimmy.

"We have no intention of moving Jimmy. We need Jimmy to play for us to win. It's as simple as that."

Asked if Rollins needed to be a better leader, Amaro told MLB.com, "I don't have any issues at all with Jimmy."

The 35-year-old Rollins is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, one in which he hit .252 with six home runs, 39 RBIs and 65 runs scored in 600 at-bats. He will make $11 million this year, and with 434 plate appearances in 2014, an $11 million option for the 2015 season would vest.

"Am I coming off a bad year? Yes, that part is true," he told MLB.com. "I've never hid from the truth. That's OK. They can't be harder on me than I am on myself. It's OK, it's OK, it's OK. I'm looking forward to a great year."

Information from ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney was used in this report.